Kymbria Young earned a B.A. in English from Spelman College in 2014 and an M.S. in Integrated Marketing Communications from Roosevelt University in 2016. Her professional experience includes corporate positions at numerous Fortune 500 companies including JPMorgan Chase and PepsiCo. Additionally, she has international work experience in Accra, Ghana. Though Kymbria’s corporate experience was critical to her professional development, in 2016 she decided to leave corporate America and pursue her true passion for community development and social activism. With this choice, she launched Season to Soar nonprofit organization. In addition to serving as Founder of Season to Soar, Kymbria is a professional fundraiser for Governors State University.
Her key skills include aligning donors with opportunities to give based on their interests and passion, developing strategic partnerships and cultivating relationships with stakeholders.
Traveling is one of Kymbria’s favorite activities. She has visited three different continents so far and has a personal goal to visit the remaining continents before she turns 30. Most of all, Kymbria enjoys spending quality time with her son, Alexander.
Dominique Anthony graduated with her Master’s degree in Nursing from Rush University on December 2017. Dominique is currently working at Rush Oak Park community hospital as a registered nurse working in a variety of settings such as acute rehab, surgical, and orthopedic floors. Before starting her career working in the health care field she spent two years working for a non-profit called Friends Life. During her time at the organization she was a lead staff member who worked with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Some of her responsibilities were focused on developing lessons plans and leading classes on topics such as health and nutrition.
Professionally, Ashley has worked in healthcare for 8 years. In her current position as a Perioperative care technician in the Interventional Lab, she prepares patients for invasive procedures ranging from major procedures like Transcatheter aortic valve replacements to minor procedures like biopsies.
Ashley is a graduate of University of Illinois at Chicago earning a Bachelor of Science in biological sciences and a Bachelor of Arts in criminology, law, and justice. During her time at UIC she was a volunteer chemistry tutor. Ashley also spent most of her life volunteering in many capacities with her church located on the west side of Chicago. She plans to continue her studies to receive a Master’s degree in Physician Assistant studies
Brandon McAnuff has worked in the higher education field for over 13 years. Within his time in education, he has served diverse communities and institutions and has gained an array of knowledge, specifically within admissions and financial aid. He is currently working as an Associate Director of Financial Aid at the University of Chicago, where he provides leadership within the Business School to ensure that students receive the necessary funding to obtain their degrees. Brandon has also served on multiple task force committees for the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA), working on projects aimed at increasing access to college for first-generation and low-income students. He specializes in budgeting for college students to maximize their return on investment. Additionally, he is currently working towards his doctorate at the University of Michigan – Flint in K-12 Educational Leadership.
Since July 2018, Chris has been a member of the advisory board leadership team for Season to Soar. Chris joined Season to Soar bringing with him 17 years of experience in public service and corporate leadership. Chris has held various leadership positions throughout his career in technology and operations. Chris is a graduate of DePaul University in Chicago and has lived in the city since 2003. Chris’s leadership has contributed to the organization in many ways including updating our digital presence and establishing key strategic partnerships with universities and businesses in Chicago.
Katie is an Academic Designer at McGraw-Hill Education, where she develops Social Studies curriculum in both print and digital formats. She has been in education for her entire professional career, having spent almost ten years teaching in a diverse set of environments. Katie has always been a proponent of educational equity and authentic learning experiences, and believes that systems can be created to empower and ensure success for all learners. Katie enjoys Crossfit, singing, and spending time with her partner, Matthew, and their dogs, Desmond and Stella.
Jessica is an experienced marketing leader with almost 20 years of experience driving strategy and evolving numerous Fortune 500 companies. Her most extensive expertise is across digital and life cycle marketing, but spans all facets of marketing. In addition to her thriving marketing career, Jessica prioritizes community involvement and has volunteered with a number of organizations supporting those in need, including the homeless, children’s shelters, the elderly, and animals both in Austin, where she lived for the past 18 years, and now in Chicago where she lives. Her deepest non-profit expertise is with the Texas Advocacy Project where Jess is serving her 6th year on the board of directors, remote from Chicago. Jessica is a Texas native with degrees in Corporate Communications and Spanish from the University of Texas. When she is not working or volunteering, she spends her time with her nieces and nephews and traveling, most recently visiting Cuba this past December.
